Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-09
FACTS FOR THE FARMERS.
Windmills on the Farm-How to
Make Sheep Pay. ...
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER
How to Care for Housc and Land Dur
ing the Cold se.,son--Drainage
and Droughts-Hints
and Suggestions.
Preparing For Winter.

are the long and severely cold winters.
During at least third OF the year, in
this locality, most farmers can not em-
ploy their time in such n manner that
they can receive immediate remunera-
tion for their labor. A few living in
the vicinity of forests can find employ
ment for themselves and their teams in
drawing lumber. "A still smaller num-
Der can earn money in cutting and haul
ing ice. But, as u general rule, farmers
have no employment during the winter
excepting taking care of their live
stock, This use of time is, of course,
necessary, though it brings nothing but
a promise of reward. However we'll
cared for, no kind of farm animals gain
much during the winter. Generally
they will weigh no more in the spring
than they did at the time they were
taken into winter quarters. They eat Il
large amount of grain. hay and other
kinds of fodder, but their consumption
only serves to supply the waste in the
system to produce the necessary degree
of bodily heat. A part of the farmers
time may be spent in procuring and
preparing fuel for the house, but there
is no return for this labor except the
comfort insured by warmth.
A farmer cannot produce much dur
ing the winter, but he can save a large
amount if he takes the right course.
Whatever will save food iu the stable or
feeding-yard, or lessen the amount of
fuel consumed in the house, will be in
the nature of gain. If the stable, or
that part Of it where animals are kept,
is so prepared that the snow and wind
cannot pass into it, and the feeding
yard is sheltered, animals will eat much
less food than they will if they are ex-
posed to storms and the cold. Much of
the food consumed by all kinds of ami
mails during cold weather is used in pro-
ducing vital heat, and the colder the air
is to which they are exposed the more
food they require for this purpose. An
imals that do not work, and take little
exercise during the winter, and those
that give no milk will require com
paratively small amount of food if they
are kept in warm quarters. They will,
of course, need the amount of food that
is required to make blood to supply the
waste that is constantly going on in the
system, but they will require but little
to produce body heat: Animals can be
kept warm by atfording them protection
from the cold or blythe consumption of
food. The last is an expensive method.
The better the interior of the house is
protected from currents of air the easier
it will be to keep it comfortable. A
farm house is necessarily exposed to the
wind, and on that account it is more
difficult to keep it warm than a adwelling
in a city or village. Special pains
should therefore be taken not only to
break the force of the wind that will
blow against it, but to render it tight.
A banking of some kind that will reach
from the surface of the ground to con-
siderable distance above the lower floor
will prevent the wind from blowing
under the house, and will also prevent
the outward passage OF heat. This pro-
lection can be formed of straw or corn
stalks covered with earth. The former
contains or incloses air, which is the
poorest conductor Of heat, and are so
clean that they will not soil the wood
work by being in contact with it. The
earth will hold the straw or corn-stalks
in place, and when frozen will carry off
rain that falls npon it. Lath to which
strips of old woOlen cloth are attached
can be nailed against the frames of
doors and windows that are not
opened during the winter. A temporary
or storm-door is of great value in keep
ing out cold and show.
A great saving of fuel, whether it be
wood or coal, may be effected by getting
it to the house before very cold and wet
weather begins and placing it under
cover. Fuel that contains considerable
moisture makes poor fire, while much
heat is required to put in condition to
an expensive process, but one that
everyone carries on who burns green
wood or any kind of fuel that is exposed
to rain and snow. 1t is poor economy
to use one stick OF wood or one lump of
coal to dry another so that it will be in
condition to be burned. 1t is also
poor economy to defer obtaining fuel
till roads become bad or impossible and
the weather severely cold. Fuel is
poorer then than it is earlier in the
season, and is likely to be in poorer
condition. In buying coal in the winter
one is likely to have to pay for consid-
cradle water, snow and ice. These have
to be hauled to the house, where they
help to extinguish rather, than .replen-
ish fires. No farmer allows winter to
approach without providing meat and
| breadstutls for the supply of the family,
but very many neglect to provide fuel
| that is almost essential to life and COM
| fort.
From the time the late rains fall till
| the ground settles in the spring the
land about the farm house is likely to be
| in very bad condition for walking over.
| If it is not covered with snow and ice it
| is generally muddy or. very soft. Tho
soil sticks to the feet and is often
brought into tho house. The moisture
causes boots and shoes to become wet
whenever one passes out of doors. Many
colds are produced in, consequence of
the feet becoming wet. Plain walks
made of two-inch plank placed on
scantlings will do much towards obviat-
ing these troubles. Such walk should
extend from the outer door most gener-
ally used to the well the privy and barn.
Being smooth, hard and elevated from
the ground it is easy to keep it free of
snow. Such walks cost but little and
will last for many years. They prevent
wet feet and save much work in the
house. 1t is impossible to introduce all
the comforts of the city or village into
the country, but it is practical to secure
| more things that couduce to enjoyment
than most farmers of good means pro-
vide.
| Wind Mills.
The Husbandman says that a very
common mistake in selecting wind mills
| !, a., ,,,t tboea that bavo NOT opnurb u